Not blogging, just logging..

Incognita

Hi, well, howdy, hello there..
I'm not a regular poster, I'm quite the lurker but I've always toyed with the idea of a blog, only I'm not that interesting so maybe a log would be better!

I've been running a few years, well 4 but... How do you define running? In the beginning I was trying to run. I was almost 14 stone at 5ft 5 , had completed my contribution to humankind with 3 boyos and decided I'd like to take some time for me. I started eating properly and a variation of c25k and before I knew it... Boom! I was a runner and 4.5 stone lighter.

I'm a plodder really, the legs aren't too in love with speedy stuff, damn legs, but I'm hoping to talk them into a few PB's this year.
As it stands..
5k: 24:46
10k 51:32
Half 1:52:31
10mile 1:25:04
Marathon 4:24:12 biggest disappointment ever but more on that later.

Can I haz a sub 50 10k sub 1:50 half and with a LOT of work sub 4 for Dublin marathon?

Incognita

So I ran ballycotton last Sunday in 1:25:40 not a pb but lots of confusion at the start and i had been under the weather all week so I took this week kinda handy

Monday. Nice easy 5miles at 10min/mile
Tues: rest
Wed: 6 miles at 9:20min/mile
Thurs: tried a tempo 1 w/up 4miles 10k pace 1c/d tough run
Fri: 5 miles at 8:45 avg
On the wine tonight so not sure what tomorrow will bring!

Incognita

Jesus, still not sure I'm doing this sheet right but I'm trying!
Today was mostly sponsored by sauvignon blanc and a stinker of a head cold that put me off venturing out to do a parkrun in town. I've only done it once and keep meaning to go back but long runs at weekends have taken first preference. Now that I'm hoping to focus on the 10k and half PB's I should really bite the bullet!
I did run though, for my sins. 10k easy enough (56min) with my long suffering running bddy, during which we put the world to right. Honestly, feck only getting to know someone until you live with them.. Just run with them..by the end you'll know it all 😯😂 then I ran home, another 3 miles quicker pace 8:30, 8:22, 8:10

Think I'm 41miles for the week, which is okily dokely with me.

Incognita

So I was well and truly taken under by that head cold. No running Sunday or Monday as I felt awful, still feel pretty miserable today but was twitching and itching to get out. I ran 5 miles, legs felt good and strong, breathing was a bit hard but hopefully I'm on the mend.
Splits were 8:54, 8:39, 8:39, 8:39 & 8:16. Not that it matters, no structure to my running at the minute at all. I'm trying to add in a bit of everything but I would like the structure of a plan, just dunno which to choose! All the plans I've looked at for faster 10k have had fairly low weekly mileage, but I want to keep a good strong base with a long run AND get faster! Too much to ask?

Kennyg71

If you look at DCM 2015 graduates thread, myles splitz has plan up
Covers 5 days running by time, long run is 90 mins, so should get
You 10 miles easy running. It is tailored for 10 k racing, and variation
On mid week run, you can go back through thread and start at beginning,
or pick up from this week, best of luck.

Incognita

Kennyg71 wrote: »

If you look at DCM 2015 graduates thread, myles splitz has plan up
Covers 5 days running by time, long run is 90 mins, so should get
You 10 miles easy running. It is tailored for 10 k racing, and variation
On mid week run, you can go back through thread and start at beginning,
or pick up from this week, best of luck.

Thanks kennyg71 I'll have a look! Always feel weird wading into the middle of a long established group of buds, I used to read the DCM 15 novice thread but only ever added one comment...

Incognita

Today, thankfully I felt much better. The elephant that had parked itself on top of my skull moved off and I felt a bit less like snotser.
I usually do an easy run with my friend on a Wednesday so decided to dig deep and just do it. Had a great chat and did the 6 miles in 56 mins. Sometimes you just need these runs, loved it, it's my only social life at the moment!

Incognita

8 sorrowful, sickness filled miles tonight, autocorrect wanted mules instead of miles.. Funny little Freudian slip, as I worked like a mule to get them finished! Less said about this week of training the better, which is highly ironic as it's my first week logging my training! My. Life.

Incognita

Ticking along this week, still not 100% recovered from this sinusitis but getting there, slowly.. Slowly being the operative word as running is tough ATM.
Monday: 5.5 miles in total. Warm up then hills and cool down. Ran with my club, getting ready for the local road race series. Felt like crap but did it anyway!
Tuesday: 6 miles with my buddy, nice and easy having the chat pace. 55mins
Wednesday: 5miles @8:32 avg felt like my legs were lead weights. Was it the hills on Monday or still shaking off this dose, I don't know but definitely the least enjoyable run I've done in a long while.

Incognita

Finally, FINALLY clear of sickness (touches all things wooden for fear of jinxing myself). March has been a difficult month for me, not enjoyed running all that much if I'm honest, running while under the weather is not easy. I've missed the feeling you get on those runs where everything just works, the runs where you could stay going and going.. and almost forget you are running. Yeah, haven't had that feeling in a long while.

After saying goodbye to the sinusitis, I welcomed a tummy bug to the party. An uwelcomed guest, didn't even bring me wine or chocolate and it was Easter! It obviously enjoyed itself as it stuck around, causing me trouble for a full week.

I did run though, stubborn soul that I am.
Thurs: 9.5 miles lsr 9:40avg. Heat, humidity + sickness = horrible run.
Fri: 4 miles 8:40
Sat: park run route 26 mins for the 5k, couldn't push my legs at all. W/up & c/d 5.5miles in total.
Sunday and Monday I took to rest.
Tuesday: 6.5 miles 8:42 avg. Started off cautiously but felt much better and broughtace down each mile.
Wed: 6miles. 1 w/up 5 tempo-ish miles, last mile 7:50

Roll on April!

Dubgal72

March has been a difficult month for me, not enjoyed running all that much if I'm honest, running while under the weather is not easy.

I did run though, stubborn soul that I am.
Thurs: 9.5 miles lsr 9:40avg. Heat, humidity + sickness = horrible run.
Fri: 4 miles 8:40
Sat: park run route 26 mins for the 5k, couldn't push my legs at all. W/up & c/d 5.5miles in total.
Sunday and Monday I took to rest.
Tuesday: 6.5 miles 8:42 avg. Started off cautiously but felt much better and broughtace down each mile.
Wed: 6miles. 1 w/up 5 tempo-ish miles, last mile 7:50

Don't forget...rest is your friend! Especially when you're/have been sick....

Incognita

Dubgal72 wrote: »

Don't forget...rest is your friend! Especially when you're/have been sick....

Thanks dubgal, I know it really but I feckin love to get out for a run and it kills me when I can't! The two days off definitely helped though, so I need to remember that in future.

Incognita

Whoop whoop all the wood touching helped and I feel back in the swing of things at last. 10 mile long run with a friend @ 9:40avg. Nice, relaxed, have a chat, pick an outfit for Saturday night kind of a run. Such a relief. What a difference a few days can make!

Incognita

So the weekend landed and all that existed was... S#x drink and rock n roll. Or none of the above if you're a mother of three, pretend athlete who thinks everything is too loud!

Sat: park run. 26:11 for the 5k wasn't feeling the love , the hills were sucking me dry. 5, miles altogether.
Sunday: after being dragged kicking and screaming to the in-laws (well, inside I was screaming, mother in-law wouldn't have heard me even had I been screaming)
I ventured out for 10k to clear the brain. Really enjoyed it. 53:42

Incognita

How do you come out of lurkdom? Start a log... But do you admit just how many lazy rest days you've gone back 5+ years on some else's? �� and actually comment?!! I've a list... New week resolution is to say hello.

Anystalks .. Running has been good.
Sun: 6miles
Mon: 6miles total. 1.5 w/up 3miles hills 1.5c/d holy aching glutes.
Tues:3.7 recovery. Felt like an addict in recovery, body twitching all over ��
Wed: no such thing as bad weather.. Yea, about that. 6 miles against storm whoeversherface.
Thurs: 10 miles LSR

Incognita

Still no structure but I'm feeling better about each run I do. I've a semi plan in my head but don't want to get anal about things and take the enjoyment out of it. I'm never going to be an Olympian so why stress, my only competition is myself.
Sat: 2m warm up, 3.1 tempo 2.4 cool down. 7.5 total
Sun: Sunday Sunday, the weather was absolutely atrocious here today And I was housebound. The kids were happy enough YouTube'ing but I was desperate to get out. If ever I had a run that reaffirmed why I run, this evening was it. Rain, wind, hail in my face but I laughed out loud like a crazy woman and felt alive. What a feeling, if I could bottle it. 4miles of puddle splashing.

Incognita

Currently lying with a bag of frozen peas on my shin, so what better time to update..

Monday: ran with the club. We did a practice run of the route for the local race series. Big ass hill in the middle. 1.5 warm up, 2 m up and down hill, 1.5 cool down. Then ran home 3m. 8 in total.
Tuesday: rest. well, I walked to and from school twice, cleaned house top to bottom, cooked etc but yeah, rest. Rest is important.

Wednesday: race series started with the 2miler. Lots of speedies bouncing away at the front while we waited to start on a quiet country road. Think they were high on the smell of cows or something, not normal. They went up the hill like the clappers, I kind of stomped my way up like an extra from the walking dead. Then we had the downhill, downhill running fast is hard. I felt like I was leaning back too much and my foot strike was off (hence the peas on my shin). Lessons learned: 2miles is a long way when your really pushing it. Don't eat dinner before fast runs, you will get to taste it all over again. I dislike the smell of cow poop and the taste of midges. Happy with 15.01 on my watch, hoping the official results with do away with those 2secs and I can claim a 14:xx ����
Then I ran home 3.8 miles. 7m in total including warm up.

Dubgal72

Well done Incognita. Hope the shin calms down. Do you think 8 miles two days before a race took anything out of you? Rest and recover well!

Incognita

Dubgal72 wrote: »

Well done Incognita. Hope the shin calms down. Do you think 8 miles two days before a race took anything out of you? Rest and recover well!

Thanks dubgal, yea it probably did. I'm kind of caught between a rock and a hard place at the minute though... I don't drive, so depending on the hubby to ferry me around. I got a lift up to where the group meets but had to find my own way back due to him being Dad taxi for the evening. I definitely wouldn't have done 8 otherwise but what do ya do?! Joys of not being a full time athlete 😁

The shin still felt a bit tender this morning, nothing major though so I decided on a 6mile recovery run to loosen up. All was good until the last half mile where I could feel it again, not enough to stop me but like someone sticking a toothpick in my shin, if that makes any sense? Funnily enough the last mile was downhill, so I def think the hill in last night's race was the culprit.

Dubgal72

Ah ok, yeah been there. No harm asking a fellow runner for a lift now and then. If that situation arises again, make sure it's a very very eeeeasy jog home. You could even run/walk the last mile.

Incognita

So not blogging or logging...
Run down for the week, brace yourselves now..
Friday: rest
Sat: rest
Sunday: felt like someone in Guantanamo so I had to do something. The leg actually felt OK and I did 5 cautious miles.
Monday: 7. 2 easy, 4 paced, 1 CD
Tues: rest
Wednesday: 3mile club series. I was so wary after last week. I warmed up well and stretched the bejaysus out of myself before but still I was in two minds whether I should even run when the whistle went! ****e, I'm not ready! All the bodies are gone flying in front, hate having to catch up..the stress. Took the first mile easier,purely because I was weaving through people nd I was afraid. 8:01 then uphill, Jesus that hill,then downhill where I was dying to give it welly but my shin said cop the f on, so I didn't.. Full on straight to the finish, where I held steady and finished in 22:58 20s slower than last year but I'm happy as I ran a very cautious race. 7.5m total with w-up ,and run home.
Thurs: 5mile recovery
Fri. 12 miles LSR

Incognita

Funny how I started this log with great intentions but have been slack.
Running away but feeling a bit tired the last week or so.
Sunday: 6miles steady pace.
Monday: 6.5 with my buddy nice and chilled. 60,mins
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 4 mile race series. I've officially come to the conclusion that I hate racing, I love how I feel when things go well but spend the most of the race questioning why I'm doing it?! Legs were just not happy from the start, my friend asked me half a mile in was I OK and I replied curtly "feel like sh!,t" She pulled ahead as she was running strong and it took all my will not to turn back. I could see her ahead and said to myself "keep her in sight" and I did, I kept steady but it was tough, we did the hill in reverse which is actually harder as it's climbing from lower down.. Did I mention I hate races? I finished in 31:28 but didn't enjoy a step.
Ran home and legs felt loose for the 3.5 miles, obviously the pressure gets to me and I tense up. I'm convinced it was the same thing that happened last October at DCM. 9.5 miles in total with warm-up.

Thursday: 5mile recovery.

Friday: 12mile LSR God I love these runs, highlight of my running week. Pressure off and just run and chat.

Satur'yay: 4miles easy enough with my middle middle on his bike. Hurry on mammy!

I'm doing a local 10k Monday morning and I'm really hoping for a pb if all goes to plan Putting in on the interwebs makes it offish. Sub 50 would be a dream!

Incognita

Imagine if you went out to race a 10k *really* hoping to do a sub 50, your three kids spent the morning making you a 'go faster' sign, stood out in the cold waiting for you to finish... As you miss it by 5 seconds. 5. That would be frustrating, would it not?

I was up early, breakfast was well settled. I was thinking positive, I knew I had it in me, all I had to do was keep steady.
There was a funny wind blowing, it was strong and seemed to be swirling, coming from every direction. Plus it was quite warm when the sun was out. Laying down the excuses already..
Before I knew it I had lined up, tried to find a position in front of the fake tan, matchy gang but behind the club singlet crew. First we had a loop around the carpark to make up distance, then back past the start and past my tiny supporters. My mouth was feeling really dry already, not boding well. Out onto the main road and legs felt a bit wobbly, nerves? Not sure but I kept steady up the long drag, the wind was blowing right in my face, I tried to tick in behind a guy in front but he pulled away, then we turned onto a country road with kept climbing uphill.. Still with the wind, it's OK, it'll be on my back for the way home. ha! I grabbed a drink (cups) tried to drink it but spilled most, feck it, I needed that drink. Kept at a steady 7:55 pace until we turned back out onto the main road. I could make up time here.. The wind was coming strong in my face again in the OPPOSITE direction? Give me a break. I grabbed a drink but stopped briefly to actually get it in my mouth, tried to make up pace but clocked 8:20 for mile 5, I'm done, no chance now. Just keep going, think of the little heads waiting for you. I turned the corner for the last .2 and saw the clock in front 49:** oh no, I could still make it, run run.. Under the gantry, chip time 50:05 Raging and delighted in equal measure.
PB by 1min 28 secs but missed out on my big goal. Kids thought I was deadly though, that's the main thing ðŸ˜

annapr

5 seconds!! I feel your frustration, but... Great PB, well done! 50 mins is only an arbitrary number after all

Incognita

annapr wrote: »

5 seconds!! I feel your frustration, but... Great PB, well done! 50 mins is only an arbitrary number after all

Ahh but it's a numbers game isn't it?! 49:** is so much fawncier than 50 To quote my littlest "Mammy I still love you even though you failed" haha

Incognita

Back to the grind this week..
Tuesday: nice hand 5mile recovery run. Legs felt OK. They were lying.
Wednesday: I was so tired today, trying to adjust to a new routine. The hubby is gone more and I'm walking to do school runs & pickup, along with all the other millions of things that come with being a mammy, plus trying to keep up the running.. Took the day off. Eyes closed 9:30.
Thursday: met the club and we did 4.5miles, felt like tempo pace, watch was lying though �� obviously still feeling the effects of Monday. Ran the 2.5 home easy, So 7 in total.
Friday: 12 mile LSR. God it was a scorcher. We scrapped our usual route and headed for tree lined country roads. Was a really enjoyable run despite the little yappy dog that came for my heels.

Incognita

I'm feeling so tired this week, everything is an effort and I'm looking for excuses.
Satur'yay I ran 5 miles with my support team on bike duty, chewing my ear off and cycling in front of me and oncoming traffic. I earned the wine after that, I can tell you.
Sunday: I flaked out on the garden psychotically tracking people I didn't know on the wings for life app.. Then transferred to the couch to watch the last hour on setanta. Definitely one to run next year, loved watching it! Such a cool concept for a race.
Monday: hills n stuff. 1m warm up, 5k tempo hilly route,then cool down. 6 miles total.
Tuesday: rest as I've the 5mile race series tomorrow.

Incognita

Wow, ha, that was good while it lasted eh? I'm a disaster!
Since last update I have had a few ups and downs. I had an injury which put me out for the last couple of weeks in May and I took June fairly slowly. As with most injury came frustration, so I decided to start training for a Marathon, as you do and signed up for a local marathon on the 17th of Sept. Which is now 2 weeks away and I am sitting here drinking a glass of wine and living in denial.
I have been training of course, but definitely don't feel as prepared for it as I did for Dublin last year. I have done 2 16's, 2 18's and one 20 mile. Last year I had more time and managed 3 16's, 2 18's and 2 20's. Tapered back yesterday with a 15 mile. Feeling tired though, which I suppose is normal but have the niggly devil on my shoulder telling me I've rushed into this with all the stubbornness of a mule and the intelligence of a snail.